Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-20
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
The most important aim of science should be to improve people’s lives. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answers and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Student answer (Band 6.5)
The main purpose of science should be to improve people’s lives. I agree with this statement to a large extent because science has an important role in making our lives easier and healthier. However, I believe that science also has other important purposes, such as increasing knowledge and understanding the natural world.
Firstly, science has greatly improved people’s quality of life. Many scientific discoveries have helped to prevent and treat diseases. For example, vaccines have protected millions of people from serious illnesses, while modern medical equipment helps doctors to diagnose diseases more accurately. In addition, scientific developments in technology have made daily life more convenient. Smartphones, computers and the internet allow people to communicate and get information quickly. Therefore, improving human life is clearly one of the most valuable aims of science.
On the other hand, science is not only about making life easier. Scientists also study things because they want to understand how the world works. For example, research about space can help us learn more about planets and the universe, even if it does not have an immediate benefit for ordinary people. Similarly, scientists study animals, plants and the environment to increase human knowledge. Some of these discoveries may not have a direct use today, but they could become useful in the future.
In conclusion, I largely agree that science should aim to improve people’s lives because it has already made major improvements in health, communication and everyday life. However, gaining knowledge and understanding the world are also important purposes of scientific research.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The student addresses all parts of the task by clearly stating a position agreeing with the statement while introducing a nuanced counter-perspective. The position is maintained throughout the essay. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as mentioning vaccines and modern medical equipment to illustrate health improvements, and space research to illustrate the pursuit of pure knowledge. While the arguments are well-developed, there is a slight tendency to over-generalise in places, which aligns closely with the Band 7 descriptors. The response thoroughly answers the prompt requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay displays clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving from the introduction of the thesis to health and daily life benefits in the second paragraph, counter-arguments regarding pure knowledge in the third, and a concise conclusion in the fourth. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'In addition', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader, though they are somewhat conventional rather than completely flexible, which is typical of a Band 7 performance. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, allowing for some precision and flexibility. Appropriate academic and topic-related vocabulary is used, such as 'scientific discoveries', 'diagnose diseases', 'immediate benefit', and 'scientific research'. The student also attempts less common items and collocations with general success. There are occasional inaccuracies in word choice or style, but the vocabulary is adequate to convey the intended meaning clearly without impeding communication at any point, placing this firmly in the Band 7 category.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The writer produces a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating subordinate clauses effectively (e.g., '...even if it does not have an immediate benefit...'). There are frequent error-free sentences, and the grammar and punctuation are under good control. While a wider variety of more sophisticated complex structures could push the score higher, the current output displays high accuracy with only very minor slips, demonstrating solid control over the grammar attempted, aligning well with the Band 7 descriptors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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